My Cruel Husband Let Me Die So I Married His Brother Chapter 03
The gun in Griffin’s hand was the one I’d picked out for him myself, the day he first came to my house as an eight-year-old boy.
He had carried it with him all these years.
I never imagined that one day he would point it at me.
Ava immediately burst into tears.
“I just ran into Daphne by chance. I never thought she’d start cursing at me and hitting me…”
I laughed as I listened to her spin her lies.
Before I could say a word, Griffin spoke impatiently. “Daphne, apologize to Ava.”
I turned to look at him.
“You want me to apologize to her?”
Even though I no longer loved him, the words were a punch to the gut.
Growing up in New York, no one had ever dared to speak to me like that.
“You hit her. Shouldn’t you apologize?” Griffin’s face was a blank mask. “Apologize. Don’t make me do it for you.”
Sophia swore on the spot.
“Griffin, are you out of your mind? Do you even know who Ava—”
Ava’s eyes flickered, and she pressed a hand to her forehead.
“Griffin, I’m so dizzy…”
The moment the words were out, she crumpled to the ground.
Griffin pulled her from my grasp and turned to leave.
“Daphne, sooner or later, you will make that apology—”
“Who said you could leave?”
I pulled out my phone and summoned Leo. His men disarmed Griffin and forced him to his knees.
I pulled up the hallway security footage and made Griffin watch it, from start to finish, ten times.
“I’ve been too lenient with you. You’ve forgotten who I am.”
Griffin stared at the screen, his expression darkening with every loop.
I looked down at him.
“Are you going to do it yourself, or should I have my men do it?”
Griffin had no choice but to slap her himself.
He knew my men would be far worse.
Ava had been faking her faint, but after her face swelled from the blows, she passed out for real.
“If you’re going to be with her, then you’d better learn to behave in front of me.”
My gaze fell to the gun on the floor.
After twelve years, much of the finish had been worn smooth by his hands.
“You’re not worthy of carrying it anymore.”
I had Leo smash it.
Griffin stared at the broken pieces on the floor. He didn’t move, but his hands slowly tightened into fists.
That afternoon, Griffin came to the house bearing gifts, apologizing for what had happened with Ava.
“Ava didn’t know you have asthma, so she didn’t mean to hurt you. And what she said wasn’t entirely wrong.”
“The only person I love is her. You shouldn’t keep clinging to me, and you shouldn’t have gone behind my back to file for a marriage license. We need to find a time to get it annulled.”
I didn’t even open the door for him.
For the past few days, Dante had been busy preparing my wedding present, keeping the Harlem crews on edge.
My father, worried he’d get hurt before the wedding, had me call him back.
“Are you hurt?”
Dante didn’t answer. He leaned in close and sniffed at the air.
“Smells like a rat’s been here. Did Griffin come by again?”
“That bastard. I’ll go kill him right now.”
He made me laugh.
“Is your nose that good? I’m starting to wonder which one of you is the real animal.”
Dante sat beside me, uncharacteristically awkward.
“Once we’re married, if he bothers you again, I really will kill him. But before the wedding, forget it. I want him to watch us get married with his own two eyes.”
The day before the wedding, I went to the penthouse at Moonlight Tower to get my things.
Griffin had bought the apartment and named it himself.
He said I was his moonlight.
I used to think we would live there forever.
And in a way, I did live there forever—right up until I died.
I had just reached the door and was about to enter the code when a message flashed on the screen.
Face ID Error.
The door opened from the inside.
Ava stood there. The moment she saw me, her expression soured.
“What are you doing here? This is mine and Griffin’s home now. I already changed the code. You’re not welcome.”
Everything in that apartment had been bought with my money.
Even the slippers on her feet and the silk robe on her body were mine.
Ava seemed to read my mind and deliberately held up her hand.
“See this? Griffin bought me this diamond ring. He never bought you one, did he? You should go. Don’t just stand there making things awkward.”
“Daphne?”
Griffin’s voice came from behind me.
He was carrying a grocery bag from Whole Foods, his brow furrowed.
“Changed your mind? Ready to get the paperwork undone?”